Pop band, Emblem3 is photographed on their tour bus prior to performing for fans, during a stop on their "Goin Back to Cali" tour, Sunday, April 21, 2013 at Stereo Live, in Houston, Texas.

Pop band, Emblem3 is photographed on their tour bus prior to performing for fans, during a stop on their "Goin Back to Cali" tour, Sunday, April 21, 2013 at Stereo Live, in Houston, Texas.

Photo: Todd Spoth/for the Chronicle

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Pop band, Emblem3 is photographed on their tour bus prior to performing for fans, during a stop on their "Goin Back to Cali" tour, Sunday, April 21, 2013 at Stereo Live, in Houston, Texas.

Pop band, Emblem3 is photographed on their tour bus prior to performing for fans, during a stop on their "Goin Back to Cali" tour, Sunday, April 21, 2013 at Stereo Live, in Houston, Texas.

Photo: Todd Spoth/for the Chronicle

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Emblem3's Wesley Stromberg shows off his six-pack for fans at Stereo Live.

Emblem3's Wesley Stromberg shows off his six-pack for fans at Stereo Live.

Photo: Todd Spoth/for the Chronicle

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Emblem3 chat inside the tour bus before the show at Stereo Live.

Emblem3 chat inside the tour bus before the show at Stereo Live.

Photo: Todd Spoth/for the Chronicle

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Emblem3 chat inside the tour bus before the show at Stereo Live.

Emblem3 chat inside the tour bus before the show at Stereo Live.

Photo: Todd Spoth/for the Chronicle

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Emblem3 chat inside the tour bus before the show at Stereo Live.

Emblem3 chat inside the tour bus before the show at Stereo Live.

Photo: Todd Spoth/for the Chronicle

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Emblem3 chat inside the tour bus before the show at Stereo Live.

Emblem3 chat inside the tour bus before the show at Stereo Live.

Photo: Todd Spoth/for the Chronicle

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Fans inside Stereo Live for Emblem3.

Fans inside Stereo Live for Emblem3.

Photo: Todd Spoth/for the Chronicle

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Emblem3 onstage in Houston.

Emblem3 onstage in Houston.

Photo: Todd Spoth/for the Chronicle

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Fans inside Stereo Live for Emblem3.

Fans inside Stereo Live for Emblem3.

Photo: Todd Spoth/for the Chronicle

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Emblem3's Drew Chadwick onstage in Houston.

Emblem3's Drew Chadwick onstage in Houston.

Photo: Todd Spoth/for the Chronicle

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Emblem3's Drew Chadwick onstage in Houston.

Emblem3's Drew Chadwick onstage in Houston.

Photo: Todd Spoth/for the Chronicle

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Emblem3 onstage in Houston.

Emblem3 onstage in Houston.

Photo: Todd Spoth/for the Chronicle

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Fans wait outside Stereo Live for Emblem3.

Fans wait outside Stereo Live for Emblem3.

Photo: Todd Spoth/for the Chronicle

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A fan sign for Emblem3.

A fan sign for Emblem3.

Photo: Todd Spoth/for the Chronicle

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Cars were even decorated for Emblem3.

Cars were even decorated for Emblem3.

Photo: Todd Spoth/for the Chronicle

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Fans wait outside Stereo Live for Emblem3.

Fans wait outside Stereo Live for Emblem3.

Photo: Todd Spoth/for the Chronicle

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Fans wait outside Stereo Live for Emblem3.

Fans wait outside Stereo Live for Emblem3.

Photo: Todd Spoth/for the Chronicle

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Fans wait outside Stereo Live for Emblem3.

Fans wait outside Stereo Live for Emblem3.

Photo: Todd Spoth/for the Chronicle

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Fans wait outside Stereo Live for Emblem3.

Fans wait outside Stereo Live for Emblem3.

Photo: Todd Spoth/for the Chronicle

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Fans rush the stage to get a good spot for Emblem3.

Fans rush the stage to get a good spot for Emblem3.

Photo: Todd Spoth/for the Chronicle

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Fans inside Stereo Live for Emblem3.

Fans inside Stereo Live for Emblem3.

Photo: Todd Spoth/for the Chronicle

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Fans inside Stereo Live for Emblem3.

Fans inside Stereo Live for Emblem3.

Photo: Todd Spoth/for the Chronicle

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Fans inside Stereo Live for Emblem3.

Fans inside Stereo Live for Emblem3.

Photo: Todd Spoth/for the Chronicle

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Fans inside Stereo Live for Emblem3.

Fans inside Stereo Live for Emblem3.

Photo: Todd Spoth/for the Chronicle

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Emblem3.

Emblem3.

Photo: Ray Michshaw/FOX

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Emblem3.

Emblem3.

Photo: Ray Michshaw/FOX

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Emblem3.

Emblem3.

Photo: Jeff Lipsky/FOX

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Emblem3 brings its x-factor to Houston

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Emblem3 released its first single, “Chloe (You’re the One I Want),” less than a week ago. But the pop trio is already inciting serious fangirl frenzies.

Hundreds of girls showed up Sunday morning at Stereo Live on Richmond to see the group, who placed fourth on the second season of “The X Factor.” Mentor Simon Cowell, sensing the ear-piercing potential, signed Emblem3 (ages 16-20) to his Syco Music as part of a joint deal with Columbia Records immediately after the show.

“On the TV show itself, they obviously have a guy who gets everybody to scream. But the fact that they are screaming now — it’s insane,” said E3’s Wesley Stromberg, on the tour bus between soundcheck and show.

“Everything is so happy and positive. What we could have imagined it ever being, it is.”

Houston was one of nine cities on the Goin’ Back 2 Cali tour, a fan-voted trek that included a free acoustic show and meet-and-greet. (The sound is less boy-band and more ’90s-era Sugar Ray, Crazy Town and Sublime.) Girls traveled from all over, and beyond, Texas for the afternoon show. The line wound around the expansive building, normally host to EDM acts, and into the parking lot.

Patient parents stood on the sidelines with cameras. There were homemade T-shirts and signs boasting photos of kittens, declarations of love and LED lights. Several angst-ridden girls tried unsuccessfully to get into a VIP line.

“There’s a lot of weird stuff that they do,” member Drew Chadwick said. “They beat each other up. They post very explicit videos involving hairbrushes on the internet. Just, yeah.

“But I think the coolest thing is having a fan come up to you, and look you straight in the eyes, and hearing pure sincerity in their voice about how you’ve inspired them and completely transformed and changed their lives and helped them learn to love themselves, which is a gift that is beyond anything physical. I always want to keep promoting the same message.”

There were a few tears, squeals, quick photos and frantic hugs for Chadwick and brothers Wesley and Keaton Stromberg. The guys ran through five acoustic songs, including “Sunset Boulevard,” “X’s and O’s” and “Chloe,” which climbed into the iTunes top 30 the day of release.

“It’s all a tool. And it’s a fun tool. Every artist has to do songs (like this),” Chadwick said. “I probably would never listen to it. But I’m proud to present it, and I’m proud to play it for the fans. It’s written for them.”

Chadwick is the oldest and chattiest member of the group, and his eyes were intent as he talked about “creative abundance through music” and “destiny manifesting itself” and “the chaos of the human thought.” (His bandmates nodded in approval, occasionally offering an enthusiastic “Yeah!”) It was a rapid-fire stream of consciousness and sometimes hard to keep up. But he clearly has more on his mind than being a heartthrob.

“This is just the platform and the foundation of it, and we’re just gonna build from here. We want to plant a seed in the hearts of a generation and inspire them to recognize and be aware of the holistic view of the universe that all is one. That’s the true goal behind all this,” he said.

“We wanna be divinity in disguise. We wanna do something great with the gifts that we’ve been given and give them back, not just use them for our own selfish ways like so many people do.”

Until then, girls just seem content to see them in tank tops. And a quick flash of Wesley’s abs.

“I saw them on ‘The X Factor,’ and ever since then, I’ve just been a really big fan,” said Allison Price, 17, from San Antonio. “It’s completely different from normal music out there. They’re really inspiring.”

Houston girl Renee Navarro, 15, was in line at 8:30 a.m. Sunday with a friend to ensure a good spot.

“I didn’t even ask my parents. It was already a yes for me,” Navarro, 15, said. “They could not stop me.”